You
will want the pot you choose to be attractive as well as functional.
Clay pots are beautiful, but they are more porous than plastic and will
dry out more quickly. Plants in clay pots will have to be watered more
often. On the other hand, if the type of herb needs to dry out before
re-watering, a clay pot is just the thing for that plant. Some clay
pots are glazed. The glaze creates a nonporous finish that slows evaporation.
Also, nowadays there are pots of beautiful, lightweight materials that
are made to look like clay. They weather well and retain water.

High
temperatures of the midday summer sun beating down on the pot will burn
plant roots so dark colored pots are better than light ones that allow
roots to absorb light, causing stunted growth. Plastic pots are available
in darker colors, are inexpensive, durable, and lightweight. They come
in many sizes and some have built-in saucers. If you do not like the
looks of it, you can disguise it by slipping it into a larger, more
decorative pot. Plastic loses water more slowly than clay, and soil
temperature varies less. What it boils down to is that plastic makes
less work with less chance of running into problems, but if you are
a stickler for fashion, clay pots require more diligence on your part
to keep your plants thriving.

Planters that are wooden boxes, tubs, or barrels fit well in almost
any setting. Look for cedar and redwood for longevity. One of the best
herb containers you can use is an old-fashioned half whiskey barrel.
It gives you plenty of space for a collection of herbs, good drainage,
dark color, little evaporation, and the folksy ambiance you may want
to keep fashionable.

Hanging
baskets are another container possibility. They can be made of wood,
wire, clay, or plastic. Some come with holes or hooks in the rim. Wire
hangers are usually lined with sphagnum moss or coir, and then filled
with potting mix and plants. These baskets never have drainage problems
and work well in almost any design scheme.

Good
drainage is just as important in containers as in the garden. Holes
in the bottom of pots are a must, and the pots need to be set on an
open, porous surface. A tray filled with sand or gravel makes an excellent
"bed" for your pots. If you have the perfect pot and it has no holes,
drill them yourself. An 8" to 12" pot needs a 1/2 " hole. For an extra
large pot, drill four to five ¾" holes. Use an electric drill with masonry
or carbide bits for clay pots. And now I'm going to dispel one of the
great myths of gardening in containers. Broken crockery or pebbles in
the bottom of the pot does nothing to improve drainage. When the roots
hit the pebbles, they dry right out and the pebbles may even block drainage.

Don't crowd pots with too many plants. They can get stunted, and crowding
can promote diseases. Depending on the contents, you may need to step
up to a bigger pot size during the season.